Abstract
Ghrelin is a growth hormone-releasing peptide, isolated from the stomach. Researches in progress documented that ghrelin participates in the stimulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis at the hypothalamic level and in the regulation of energy balance. Growth hormone-independent functions have been ascribed to ghrelin. Among others, a large body of literature demonstrated the presence of specific receptors for ghrelin, distributed at the level of cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells. Therefore, a link between ghrelin and cardiovascular system has been hypothesized and, then, demonstrated in both experimental and clinical studies.
Ghrelin has largely documented cardiac beneficial effects, including protection from ischemia/reperfusion injury, attenuation of left ventricular remodeling following myocardial infarction, and improvement of left ventricular function. Exercise level in patients with chronic heart failure had also been seen. Ghrelin exerts these effects through several mechanisms, including the inhibition of apoptosis. At the level of blood vessels, ghrelin exerts a significant impact on vascular function. In particular, acutely infused, ghrelin reverses endothelial dysfunction by increasing NO availability and restores the endothelin-1/nitric oxide imbalance in the peripheral microcirculation of patients with metabolic syndrome. Antioxidant/anti-inflammatory effects, and-or an ameliorated insulin sensitivity are proposed mechanisms whereby ghrelin exerts its vascular protective actions. At higher doses, ghrelin also decreases blood pressure, by mechanisms that involve the modulation of sympathetic nervous system. This finding highlights the ghrelin system as a promising candidate for cardiovascular drug discovery.
Keywords: Blood vessels, endothelium, ghrelin, nitric oxide, metabolic syndrome.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Human Ghrelin: A Gastric Hormone with Cardiovascular Properties
Volume: 22 Issue: 1
Author(s): Agostino Virdis, Lilach O. Lerman, Francesco Regoli, Lorenzo Ghiadoni, Amir Lerman and Stefano Taddei
Affiliation:
Keywords: Blood vessels, endothelium, ghrelin, nitric oxide, metabolic syndrome.
Abstract: Ghrelin is a growth hormone-releasing peptide, isolated from the stomach. Researches in progress documented that ghrelin participates in the stimulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis at the hypothalamic level and in the regulation of energy balance. Growth hormone-independent functions have been ascribed to ghrelin. Among others, a large body of literature demonstrated the presence of specific receptors for ghrelin, distributed at the level of cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells. Therefore, a link between ghrelin and cardiovascular system has been hypothesized and, then, demonstrated in both experimental and clinical studies.
Ghrelin has largely documented cardiac beneficial effects, including protection from ischemia/reperfusion injury, attenuation of left ventricular remodeling following myocardial infarction, and improvement of left ventricular function. Exercise level in patients with chronic heart failure had also been seen. Ghrelin exerts these effects through several mechanisms, including the inhibition of apoptosis. At the level of blood vessels, ghrelin exerts a significant impact on vascular function. In particular, acutely infused, ghrelin reverses endothelial dysfunction by increasing NO availability and restores the endothelin-1/nitric oxide imbalance in the peripheral microcirculation of patients with metabolic syndrome. Antioxidant/anti-inflammatory effects, and-or an ameliorated insulin sensitivity are proposed mechanisms whereby ghrelin exerts its vascular protective actions. At higher doses, ghrelin also decreases blood pressure, by mechanisms that involve the modulation of sympathetic nervous system. This finding highlights the ghrelin system as a promising candidate for cardiovascular drug discovery.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Virdis Agostino, O. Lerman Lilach, Regoli Francesco, Ghiadoni Lorenzo, Lerman Amir and Taddei Stefano, Human Ghrelin: A Gastric Hormone with Cardiovascular Properties, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2016; 22 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612822666151119144458
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612822666151119144458 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Uric Acid and Oxidative Stress
Current Pharmaceutical Design Therapeutic Potential of Targeting Protease Activated Receptors in Cardiovascular Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design Biochemical Basis of Ischemic Heart Injury and of Cardioprotective Interventions
Current Medicinal Chemistry Shutting Down the Furnace: Preferential Killing of Cancer Cells with Mitochondrial-Targeting Molecules
Current Medicinal Chemistry Endothelial Dysfunction: The Link Between Homocysteine and Hydrogen Sulfide
Current Medicinal Chemistry Role of Metalloproteinases in Tendon Pathophysiology
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Targeting STAT1 in Both Cancer and Insulin Resistance Diseases
Current Protein & Peptide Science Cardiac Surgery and Inflammation: The Inflammatory Response and Strategies to Reduce the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome
Current Cardiology Reviews Histone Deacetylase Inhibition Attenuates Cardiomyocyte Hypoxia-Reoxygenation Injury
Current Molecular Medicine Dibenzofurans from Lichens – A Pharmacological Overview
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry A Review of Systemic Vasodilators in Low Cardiac Output Syndrome Following Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Current Vascular Pharmacology Microcirculatory Endothelial Dysfunction During Endotoxemia - Insights into Pathophysiology, Pathologic Mechanisms and Clinical Relevance
Current Vascular Pharmacology Flavonoids Isolated from Rumex aquaticus Exhibit Neuroprotective and Neurorestorative Properties by Enhancing Neurite Outgrowth and Synaptophysin
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Effects of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and Sodium-glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors on Cardiorenal and Metabolic Outcomes in People Without Diabetes
Current Pharmaceutical Design Erythropoietin Employs Cell Longevity Pathways of SIRT1 to Foster Endothelial Vascular Integrity During Oxidant Stress
Current Neurovascular Research Genetic and Molecular Factors in Drug-Induced Liver Injury: A Review
Current Drug Safety Renin-Angiotensin System in Central Nervous System Diseases and its Interaction with COVID-19
Current Medicinal Chemistry Application of Carbon Monoxide for Transplantation
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Role of the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway in the Pathogenesis of Alcoholic Liver Disease
Current Molecular Pharmacology Effectiveness of Resveratrol Against Cardiovascular Disease
Mini-Reviews in Organic Chemistry